Cognitive Manager Collaboration for Coordinated RAN Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radio access networks (RANs) manage coverage and capacity optimization independently without sharing information, leading to sub-optimal decisions that waste resources and reduce quality of service (QoS) due to blind spots and interference, especially in dynamic environments.
Innovation Solution
Implementing cognitive managers (CMs) to exchange information among RANs, allowing them to optimize decisions collectively by considering local and neighbor needs, adjusting parameters like power, handover, and deployment to improve coverage and reduce resource waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If eNBs perform coverage optimization independently based on their own interests, then each eNB can optimize its own cell coverage, but blind spots and interference occur due to lack of coordination with neighboring eNBs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the decision-making processes of multiple eNBs by introducing a collaborative optimization mechanism where eNBs share information and coordinate their coverage optimization actions. The system combines local needs from multiple eNBs to generate coordinated improvement actions, transforming independent optimization into a unified collaborative process that eliminates blind spots and reduces interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where eNBs exchange information about their coverage status, needs, and improvement actions with neighboring eNBs. This feedback loop allows each eNB to adjust its optimization strategy based on the state and actions of neighboring cells, enabling coordinated coverage enhancement while avoiding harmful interference and blind spots.
2Device complexity
If eNBs do not share information beyond frequency usage, then network complexity and information exchange overhead are reduced, but sub-optimal management decisions occur leading to resource waste and reduced QoS
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the information exchange process into structured components: local needs identification, neighbor needs acquisition, event message processing, and coordinated action generation. This segmentation organizes the complex information exchange into manageable stages, reducing overall system complexity while enabling comprehensive data sharing for optimal resource management decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of information exchange by defining specific data elements (local needs, neighbor needs, event messages, improvement actions) that eNBs share with each other. This parameterized approach to information exchange enables efficient and targeted data sharing that improves resource management decisions without creating excessive complexity.
3Reliability
If transmission power is increased in specific directions to maintain communications at cell edges, then coverage for edge users is improved, but interference with neighboring cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling each eNB to identify and address specific local coverage needs (such as edge user areas with poor coverage) while considering the local conditions and needs of neighboring eNBs. The collaborative optimization mechanism allows targeted power adjustments in specific directions and frequency bands based on localized requirements, improving edge user coverage while minimizing interference through coordinated local decisions.
Data Source
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AI summary
A Cognitive Manager (CM) controls a RAN. The CM obtains from the RAN a set of local needs identifying a radio communication performance criterion that is to be satisfied. A set of neighbor needs are obtained from a neighbor CM. An event message is received from the RAN containing a radio metric that does not presently satisfy at least one of the set of local needs. A set of present neighbor improvement action drives being performed or will be performed to satisfy the set of neighbor needs, are obtained from the neighbor CM. A combination of the set of local needs, the set of the neighbor needs, the set of present neighbor improvement action drives, and the radio metric, is used to determine a local improvement action drive that is to be performed by the RAN. An adjustment report identifying the local improvement action drive is provided to the RAN.